Irish Elk
Megaloceros giganteus
🦌
Chordata
Mammalia
Artiodactyla
Pecora
Cervidae
Megaloceros giganteus
Towering and majestic, the Irish Elk (Megaloceros giganteus) is famed for having the largest antlers of any known deer species. Once common across Ice Age Eurasia, it was likely hunted by Upper Paleolithic humans and features in some of the earliest known cave art.
Description
Irish Elk (Megaloceros giganteus) — Despite the name, this giant deer wasn't exclusive to Ireland; it ranged widely across Europe and into Central Asia during the Late Pleistocene. It stood nearly 2 meters at the shoulder and bore massive antlers that could span over 3.5 meters across, weighing up to 40 kg. These antlers were likely used for display and combat during mating seasons, making males vulnerable due to high energy demands and mobility constraints. Megaloceros preferred open woodlands and grassy steppes, feeding on shrubs, grasses, and herbs. It likely went extinct due to a combination of climate-driven habitat loss and human hunting pressures near the end of the last Ice Age.
Quick Facts
Max Mass
Shoulder Height
Standing Height
Length
Diet
Trophic Level
700
2.1
3
3.1
kg
m
m
m
Mixed Feeder
Herbivores – Browsers
Hunt History
Upper Paleolithic humans likely hunted Megaloceros, especially during rutting seasons when males were preoccupied and more vulnerable. Its presence in cave art suggests familiarity and possible ritual significance. Its large size and predictable movement patterns in open habitats made it a viable target for coordinated hunts using spears and traps.
Archaeological Evidence of Human Predation:
Cave Art – Lascaux and Chauvet (France) – ~17,000 to 30,000 years ago: Stylized depictions of giant deer, believed to represent Megaloceros.
Pavlovian Culture Sites (Czech Republic) – ~25,000 years ago: Antler and bone tools from Megaloceros found in mammoth hunter camps.
Kebara Cave (Israel) – ~60,000 years ago: Neanderthal occupation site with giant deer bones, possibly Megaloceros, showing cut marks.
Time & Range
Extinction Status
Globally Extinct
Extinction Date
Temporal Range
Region
8000
BP
Late Pleistocene
Europe
Wiki Link
Fat Analysis
Fatness Profile:
Medium
Fat %
5
Est. Renderable Fat
35
kg
Targeted Organs
Marrow, kidney fat
Adipose Depots
Seasonal backfat, perirenal; marrow
Preferred Cuts
Long-bone marrow
Hunt Difficulty (x/5)
4